Total Recall Blu-ray

Total Recall

 (1990)

Action | Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller



Arnold Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast as Quaid, a 2084 construction worker haunted by dreams of Mars in this crowd-pleasing science fiction spectacle. Against the wishes of his sexy blonde wife (Sharon Stone), Quaid goes to Rekall, a company that implants artificial memories, so he can "remember" visiting the red planet that is now being settled by human inhabitants. However, Quaid is actually an amnesiac secret agent from Mars - or is he?

For more details about Total Recall on Blu-ray, see the Total Recall Blu-ray Review

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Ronny Cox, Michael Ironside
Director: Paul Verhoeven

Total Recall Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Lionsgate implants Total Recall onto Blu-ray disc, and this 1080p, 1.85:1 transfer is a disappointment. The picture is quite grainy and generally lacks fine detail and clarity. An absence of vibrancy and depth is noted immediately after Quaid's nightmare in several shots in both his bedroom and kitchen. In fact, I had to forego posting a screenshot of Quaid and Lori in bed after his nightmare because the picture lacked even basic definition, and you could hardly tell who the actors were. Some scenes show excessive dirt and debris, especially during special effects-heavy shots, and the presence of such meddlesome nuisances is apparent in many scenes, but in a decidedly less-than-intrusive amount compared to the few shots where their presence is undeniably distracting. The random hair and line also pops up on occasion on this print. Many green screen effects are plainly obvious on the disc as there is sometimes a glow around the actors as a result. As mentioned above, detail is fairly unimpressive, although I did note some background objects I'd failed to see before, but that might just be because I'm viewing the film on a substantially larger television set than ever before. Still, background details are hazy, as are some foreground details. Black levels are solid but exhibit a slight bit of crushing. Colors are mostly uninteresting. The red exterior of Mars is predictably weak, but the various interiors of Mars, like the inside of the club where Quaid meets Melina is fairly bright and vibrant with a few neon signs, good lighting, and decent reproduction of the various colors of clothing worn by the cast. A fine layer of grain is present over the image, spiking in a few shots but maintaining a rather consistent, unobtrusive level throughout. Flesh tones never seemed too out-of-whack to bother noting. While Total Recall could look worse, it certainly pales in comparison to most other Blu-ray discs I've reviewed, but then again, it's never been a glamorous, beautiful movie to begin with.

Total Recall Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Total Recall's plot involves a tale of two personalities vying over one body, so it is fitting that the soundtrack offers decidedly differing listening experiences between the film's two halves. With no lossless or uncompressed option, Lionsgate brings Total Recall to Blu-ray with both a DTS-HD ES 6.1 track and a Dolby Digital 5.1 EX mix. The first half of the movie, which takes place on Earth, lacks dynamic range and punch, noted immediately in Jerry Goldsmith's score as it plays over the opening title sequence. Punches and kicks in fight sequences also lack an oomph. Effects fail to deliver any impact in the films first 45 minutes, so that scene after scene feels somewhat lessened as a result. Despite the extra channel on the DTS track, rarely do the surrounds make more than a cursory appearance. The entire first half of the track is decidedly front-heavy, and the left and right speakers take it upon themselves to handle many of the lows as well, leaving the subwoofer relaxed and barely noticed, although some of the gunshots and explosions do manage to reverberate just a bit, while others are unsubstantial and tiny. It's not until nearly 45 minutes into the movie that we finally hear and feel deep bass and a palpable, consistent surround presence when Quaid finally arrives on Mars. From there on, Total Recall, lossless or not, becomes an action lover's sonic delight. Gun shots pick up in intensity, explosions and other deep, rumbling moments rattle the subwoofer, and the action and story benefit from the added impact of the soundtrack. Dialogue is clean and clear throughout both of the movie's halves. While the soundtrack is a solid one for the latter half of the film, its inconsistency and lack of a lossless option definitely hurt this disc's overall audio score, but the quality of the movie makes looking over such anomalies a bit easier.

Total Recall Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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